The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-07-29
CHAPTER XVIII.
BESSIE is PUT TO THE QUESTION.

nag.
CHAPTER XVIII.
BESSIE is PUT TO THE QUESTION.
Meanwhile another little tragedy was being
enacted at the back of the house. After the
one eyed witch doctor Hendrix had knocked
Eilas Croft down and assisted in the pleasing
operation of dragging him to the flagstaff, it
had occurred to his villainous heart that the
present would be good opportunity to profit
personally by the confusion, and possibly to
add to the Englishman's misfortunes by doing
him some injury on his own account Ac-
cordingly, just before Frank Muller began to
read the dispatch announcing the English
surrender, he slipped away into the house,
which was now totally deserted, to see what
he could steal Passing into the sitting room,
he annexed Bessie's gold watch and chain,
which was lying on the mantelpiece, present
that her uncle had made her on the Christmas
day before the last. Having pocketed this he
proceeded to the kitchen, where there was
goodly store of silver forks and spoons that
Bessie had been engaged in cleaning that
morning, lying on the dresser ready to be put
away. These be also transferred, to the ex-
tent Of several dozens, to the capacious peck
cts of the tattered military great coat that he
wore. While doing so he was much dis
turbed by the barking Of the dog Stomp. the
same animal that had mauled him so severely
few weeks before, and who was now, as it
happened, tied up in LIS kennel-an old wine
barrel-just outside the kitchen door. Hen
dirk peeped out of the window, and having
ascertained that tho dog was secured, pro-
ceeded. with diabolical chuckle, to settle his
account with the poor animal He had left
his gun behind on the grass, but he still held
his assegai ip luis hand. land, going ont Of fhe
kitchen door with it, he showed himself with
in a few feet of the kennel. The dog recog-
nized him instantly, and went nearly mad
with fury, making the most desperate efforts
to break its chain and get at him. Forsom mo-
ments he stood exciting the animal by derisive
gestures and pelting it with stones, till at last,
fearing that the clamor would attract atten-
ton. he suddenly transfixed it with his spear,
and then, thinking that he was quite unob-
served, sat down and snuffed and enjoyed the
luxury OF watching the poor beasts last ago
MES.
But, as it happened, he was not quite alone,
for, creeping along in the grass and rubbish
that grew on the further side Of the wall, his
brown body squeezed tightly against the
brown stones-so tightly that an Impractical
eye would certainly have failed to observe it
at distance of dozen paces-was the Hot
tentot Jantje. Occasionally. too, he would
lift his head above the level Of the wall and
observe the proceedings of the one eyed man.
Apparently he was undecided what to do, for
he hesitated little, and while he did so Hen
dirk killed the dog
Now Jantje had all Hottentot's natural
love for animals, which is. generally speak
ing, as marked as is the Kaffir's callousness
toward them, and he was particularly fond
of the dog Stomp, which always went out
walking with him on those rare occasions
when he thought it safe or desirable to walk
like an ordinary man, instead OF creeping
from bush to bush like . panther, or wrlg-
Cling through the grass like snake. The
sight of the animals death, therefore. raised
in his black breast q very keen desire for ven
geance on the murderer, if vengeance could
be safely accomplished; and he paused to re-
fleet il this could be done. As he did SO Hen
dirk got up, gave the dead dog kick, with
drew his assegai from the carcass, and then,
as though struck by sudden desire to con-
ceal the murder, undid the collar, and, lifting
the dog in his arms, carried him with dim
Guilty into the house and laid him under the
kitchen table This done he came out again
to the wall, which was built Of loose, unmor-
tared stones, pulled one out without trouble,
DEPOSITED the watch and the silver be had
stolen in the cavity. and replaced the stone.
Next, before Jantje could guess what he
meant to do, he proceeded to make it practl-
cally impossible for his robbery to be discov-
cred, or, at any rate, very improbable, by
lighting a match, and, having first glanced
round to see that nobody was looking. reach
ing up and applying it to the thick thatcn
with which the house itself was rooted, ana
of which the fringe just here was not more
than nine feet from the ground. No rain had
fallen at Mooifontein for several days, and
there had been hot sun and dry wind, and,
AZ a result. the thatch was as dry as finder.
The light caught IN q second, and In TWO
more thin line Of fire was running up the
roof.
Hendrix paused, stepped few PAGES back,
resting his shoulders against the wal, I'M
mediately the other side Of which was Jant]e,
and proceeded to chuckle aloud apd rub his
hands rs he admired the results OF his handi-
work. This was too much for the Hottentot
ON the farther side. The provocation was too
great. and SO was the opportunity In ms
hand was the thick stick on which he was 80
fond of cutting notches. Raising it in both
hands be brought toe heavy knob down with
all his strength upon the one eyed villains
unprotected skull. 1t was a thick skull, but
the knob prevailed against it and fractured it,
and down went the estimable witch doctor as
though he were dead.
Next, taking a leaf out of his fallen enemys
book, Jantie slipped over the wall, and, seiz-